Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



J. F. OCONNOR 'FRIGTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Feb. `18, 1930.

Filed Feb. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet Wr j@ mm 7% 4 ff M .,W

Feb- 18, 1930- J. F. ocoNNoR 3,747,481

FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 8. 192s z Sheets-sheet 2 properas shown, comprises, broadly, front Patented Feb. 1 8, 1 930 19774 UNET JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSGEOR, BY Ii/IESNE ASSIGNMFLQ'EES,y TO

i 1 W. H. MINER, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE FRICTION SHOCK-ABSOR-BING MEGHANISM Application filed February 8, 1923. Serial No. 617,692.

This invention relates to improvements in and lrear follower casings AkA; combined friction shock absorbing-mechanisms. springk follower and friction shells BeB; One object of the invention is to provide wedge blocks C-C; friction plates D-Dg a friction shock absorbing mechanism, adapted for use in connection with railway draft riggings, wherein is obtained high capacity due to large frictional areas, and wherein a differential wedge action is made use of to assure quick and positive release of a plurality of friction plates. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the type referred to, including a plurality of relatively movable intercalated friction plates, wherein a preliminary action of the followers and the wedges takes place, prior to the engagement of the plates by the followers, whereby easy release of the parts is obtained when the actuating pressure is removed.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description v and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Fig. lis a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a railway draft rigging showing `my improved shock absorbing mechanism in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3`is a vertical longitudinal sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of one end of a movable 35 friction plate used in connection with the shock absorbing mechanism. And Fig. 5 is a detailed perspective view of one of the wedge blocks.

In said drawings, -10 indicate channel shaped center or draft sills to the inner faces, of which are secured front stop lugs' 11 and rear stop lugs 12. A portion of the draw-bar is shown at 13, to which is attached the yoke 14. The shock absorbing mechanism proper, including the front and rear follower casings,

is disposed within the yoke 14 and the movable part-s of the draft riggings are supported by the detachable saddle plate 15.

The improved shock absorbing mechanism sistance F; and vretainer bolt G.

The follower casings A are of similar con,- struct-ion, and each comprises horizontally extending spaced upper and lower walls 16 and vertically extending spaced side walls 17, connected by a vertically extending end wall 18. The opposite side walls 17 of each casingare provided with a pair of wedge faces 19 and a pair of spaced shoulders 20. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the wedge faces 19 are shorter at the upper and lower ends than at the central portion thereof, thereby forming recesses 21, each adaptedto receive a central projection on the main portion of the wedge blocks C. The rear walls 18 of the front and rear follower casings A co-act respectively with the front stop lugs 11 and the rear stop lugs 12. Each of the follower casings A is also provided with an inwardly boss 22 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The wedges C are eight in number, four being associated with each follower casing A, the same being arranged inA pairs. Each pair of wedges C 'co-operates with the wedge faces 19 on one of the opposite side walls 17 of the casing A. The wedge blocks C are each provided with a wedge face 23 adapted to co-act with one of the wedge faces 19 of the casing A, an inner flat side face 24 adapted to co-act with the outer side of one.V of the tapering friction elements E, an outer flat side face 25 and a rear flat face 26.` As clearly shown in Fig. 5, each of the wedge blocks C is cut away the upper and `lower ends thereof to provide an inwardly projecting portion 27 adapted to extend into a recess 21.

The combined spring followers and friction shells B are of rectangular form, each being provided with a cylindrical bore 46 end wall 28 of Veach casing is provided with an axial opening 29 adapted to loosely receive lthe corresponding centering boss 22 inwardly projecting from the end wall 18 of the casing A. The opposite side walls of the shells B tapering friction elements E-Espring reT extending hollow adapted to receive the spring resistance.y The` are provided with exterior flat friction surplates D.' Each of theshells is also provided Vwith two pairs ofupper and lower lugs 31-31 and two pairs of upper and lower lugs 32'32,

projecting laterally from the opposite-side j shoulders 41 to the shoulders 42. ,Y By this walls thereof.` As clearly shown in Fig. 3,

y the ylugsf32 of each shell are located at' the inner end thereof, and are spaced apart verti- Vcally ashorter distance thany the lugs 31,'f0r a purpose hereinafter described. VThe outer faces of thelugs 31 yand 32 are adapted to engage with the rear faces 26 of the wedges C,

whereby rearward movement of the wedges C is communicated through the lugs 31 and 32 to the shells B, and the'wedges C are permitted to move laterally with respect to the 'shellsB. Upon outward `movement of the .shells B 'the .lugs areadapted to restore the l Y of the gear.

l' wedgesC to normaljposition.y 2o

The `tapered friction'eleme'nts E areftwo innumber and are arranged at1 oppositesides Each of the tapering friction elements E is provided with an inner flat friction face 33 and a pair of friction wedge faces 34 on the outer side thereof. The flat frictiony facesr 34 are slightly inclined with reference to the longitudinal axis ofthe gear and eX- tend'at an angle to each other. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, each of the flat friction faces 34 of the tapering" friction'elements E is adaptedto co-act with the flat friction' faces 24 ofV a pair ofwedges associated with'one of the side walls 17'of the casingsy A.

` is provided at opposite 'i Each ofthe .tapering friction elements E ends, asclearly shown in flfig,V 3, with upwardly andV downwardly projecting stepped lugs thereby providing an outer pair of shoulders 35 and an inner pair` of shoulders 36 and upper and lower flat faces 37 and upper' and lower flat faces 38. kThe 'shoulders 35 areinV vertical alinement and are with theouterfaces yof the.,

adapted to engage lugs 31.,""1The.shoulders 36are also in vertical alinement andare adapted to engage with the outer faces of the lugs 32. It'will be evident that the lugs v31'an'd 32, byengagement withthe shouldersv and 36, will act to restore 'the' tapering friction elements E to normal position when pressure on the mechanism is removed; and the friction shells B are returned to their normal position.

n /The friction plates the casings Aand comprise two opposite f groups.

Y As` hereinv shown, the

d two plates 40, the plates 39 and 40 being alter- Y nated, with a-plate 39 of each group outermost and as best shown in Fig. 4, each of the plates 40 is enlarged at oneV end and formed with Vof the front and rear friction` shells B. The

plates 39 and '40 are of 'similar construction,

D are arranged within groups of platesDeach comprise two plates 39 and upper andflower outer shoulders 41 vand up; yper and lower inner shouldersV 42, flat upper and lower faces 43 extending from the end y of the plates to the shoulders 41 andflat upper and lower yfaces 44 eXtendingfrom the kouter pair being inV a" lowerV plane than the The lower shoulder -42 of the inner pair. shoulders 41 and 42 are adapted to engage respectively with the outer faces of thelugs 31 andV 32 whereby*` upon outward `movement of the friction shells, the'platesB are vadapted n to be restored tonormal position. As shown in Fig. 1, the plates 39 are all so arranged that the shoulders 41 and 42v thereof are adapted to be engaged by thelugs ofthe outer friction shell B, `and the plates 40 are arranged so that the shoulders 41 and 42 thereon are adapted to be engaged bythe lugs on the rear friction shell B, with the free ends of the plates 39 normallyspaced from the inner face of the end wall 18 of the rear follower casing A, and the free ends of the plates 40' spaced from the inner face of the endwall'lS of the front,l

yfollower casing A. Y d

The spring resistance Fcomprises an outer relatively heavy coiled spring 144 and an in# Y Y ner relatively lighter coiledspring` 45. TheV springs 144 and 45 are received within the bores 46 of the friction shells and abut the inner faces of the rear walls` thereof.

the inner spring 45 andhas one end thereof The retainer bolt G passes axially 'through' anchored to the hollow boss 22 oftherear follower casing A by means ofthe head -47 and has theopposite endthereof anchored'to d the hollow boss 22 of the frontfollowercasing A by means of the nut 43. The retainer bolt servesr to hold the parts ofthe draftgear under initial compression whereby wear of the parts is compensated for. In this connection it is pointed out that the shoulders 35 and 36 at the opposite ends ofthe tapering friction elements-E are so arrangedwith reference to the lugs 31 and 32`on the respective friction .shells B, as Vtoprovide a slight spac. ing'between the lugs of one 0f the shells andthe shoulders of the correspondingend of each tapered friction element, to'V allow for wear of theparts.VY

`In the operation of my improved'shock` absorbing mechanism, assuming that the front follower A is being moved rearwardly toward the rear follower during buff, a wedge action is set up between the wedge faces'19 onthe fronty follower and the co-acting wedges C, and the wedges C are moved rearwardly with kthe follower. As the wedges C associated with the front follower are engaged with the lugs vof the front friction shell B,

' lio the shell willbe carried along wit-h the wedges compressing the spring resistance F and applying a rearwardly directed pressure on the rear friction shell B, to move same rearwardly also. The rearward movement of the rear shell B will be communicated to the wedges C associated with the rear follower casing A by means of the lugs 31 and 32, therebyv setting up a wedging action between the wedges C associatedwith the rear follower casing and the wedge faces 19 on said casing. During the described action of the mechanism, the tapering friction elements E and the groups of friction plates D will be placed under lateral pressure by vthe wedges C.. There will also be a tendency to move the tapering friction elements E and the groups of friction plates D rearwardly due to the friction created between the wedges C and the tapering friction elements E and between the friction plates D and the front friction shell B. But, there will be an equal opposition to this rearward movement due to the friction created between the wedges C associated with the rear follower casing, the tapering wedge elements E, the friction plates D and the rear friction shell B, and therefore the tapering friction elements E and theV friction plates D will move rearwardly approximately one-half of the distance through which the front follower moves. As the front follower casing is moved rearwardly toward the rear follower casing, there will also be effected a relative sliding movement between the wedges associated with the front and rear follower casings and the tapering friction elements E, thereby edecting a differential wedging action, causing the wedges C to move on the wedge faces 19 of the follower oasings in a direction laterally away from the aXis and longitudinally toward the transverse center of the gear, thereby creating additional pressure on the friction plates D and effecting a further compression of the spring resistance F, due to the rearward movement of the front friction shell B and the wedges C. Upon further inward movement of the front follower, the inner face of the end wall 18 thereofv will be brought into engagement with the free, adjacent ends of the plates 40, and-the free ends of the plates 39 will simultaneously be brought into engagement with the inner face of the end wall 18 of therear follower casing A, whereupon vthe plates 39 and 40 will be moved relativelyto each other, thereby creating additional friction al resistance in opposition to the rearward movement of the front follower casing. As the front and rear friction shells B approach each other and the friction plates 39 and 40 are moved relatively to each other, the lugs on the shells will be moved out of contact and away from the shoulders on the friction plates` and tapering wedge elements a Y It will be evident, that upon movement'of the front follower, the .friction plates will not onlyslide relatively to each other, but

there will also be a relative sliding lmovement between the inner plates Ll0 and the shells B and between the outer plates 39 and the tapering friction elements E, thereby opposing additional frictional resistance tothe Y shells B with the lugs engaging rear faces of the wedges C, thus causing the prompt release of the wedging mechanism and an immediate decrease of pressure on the friction` plates.

As the lugs on the friction shells are-spaced from the shoulders of the friction plates and tapering friction elements E, during theV compression of the gear, there will be no movement of the plates D and the tapering elements E, during release, until after ,the wedges C have been fully released and moved outwardly by the lugs'Sl and 32, a short distance relatively to the tapering elements and friction plates, and the pressure reduced on the plates D, whereupon the plates vwilly be picked up by the lugs and returned to their original position. Y I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying-out my invention, butthe same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come withinthe scope of the claims appended hereto."

` I claim: f

1. In a friction shock absorbing vmechanism, the combination with front and rear followers, provided with wedge faces; of

wedges co-acting with said wedge faces; a

pair of spring follower shells provided With longitudinally arranged flat externalV Vfric-` tion surfaces; a spring resistance; longitudinally arranged intercalated friction plates, said plates being divid-ed into two groups on opposite sides ofsaid spring follower shells, with the innermost plate of each groupeeacting with the adjacent friction surfaces of said lspring followeri shells; and tapering friction elements interposed between the groups of plates and the wedges.-

2. In` a friction shock absorbing mechanism', the combination with front andl rear followers having wedge means associated therewith; of' a pair of relatively movable friction shells, said shells being movable with respect, to the respective followers; a'spring l resistance 'interposed .between said Y' friction shells; and longitudinally arranged vinter- .',calated friction plates, said plates being dividedintotwo groups on opposite sides of said shells, with theinnermost plate of each group in contact with the friction shells, and the Youtermostplates of the groups of plates co-acting with the wredging means.

Inafi"iction shock absorbing mechav nism, the combination with front and' rear followers having wedging means associated therewith; of alpair of vfloating friction membersk disposed between said followers, each provided with longitudinally extending friction surfaces on the opposite,V sides thereof;

a spring resistance co-ac'ting with said fricfollower casings provided with oppositely arrangedv interior. wedge surfaces on the'side i walls thereof; of af plurality of wedges coacting with saidwed'ge surfaces; frontV and rear friction elements movable. lengthwise d with respect to said followers, each provided with longitudinallyl extending friction lsurfaces on the opposite-sides thereof; a spring resistance co-acting f with ysaid friction ele-r ments ;i longitudinally arranged friction plates," said plates` being divided into two groups lon opposite sides of said-friction elements, and interposed between the friction surfaces of said elements and the wedges whereby, upon relative movement of said foljlower casings, the friction element'sand friction plates are subjected to a -wedging pressure. j A p 5.v In a friction V.shock absorbing mechanism, the combinationlwithfront and rear follower casings provided with oppositely arranged interior wedge surfaces on the side l walls thereof; of a plurality of wedges co-actingwith said wedgesurfaces; front and rear friction Yelements each provided with longitudinallyfextending friction surfaces on opposite sides thereof; a spring resistance coy actingilwith said friction elements; longitudinally larranged frictionplateasaid kplates y being divided into twogroups on opposite Y sides of said friction elements', Awith the innermost plate of eachfgro'up"co-acting with the adjacent friction faces' thereof and a tapering friction member interposed between each group of'fricti'on plates andthe walls of the follower casings, and in engagement with'the 4'wedges coc-acting with the wedge faces on said last named walls.y Y Y v Y 6; In a friction shock absorbing mecha.

nism, the combination with front andv rear followers having wedge Vmeans associated therewith; -ofl a pair ofk relatively. movable 7'. In a friction shells a spring resistance interposed between .said vfriction shells longitudinally ranged relatively movable intercalated lfric- Vtion rplates arranged in sets, adapted to be actuated by said followers, said sets ofl plates being `divided into two groups on opposite sides of said shells,v with the innermost plate of4 each groupv vin contact with the friction shells, and the outer plate of each group coacting with one of said tapering elements, correspondin-g ends-of one set of plates being normally slightly spaced from the inner face of one of said followers and the opposite ends of the other set of yplates being normally slightly spaced from the f other follower, whereby, upon relative movement of said followers, the wedges are actuated thereby, prior to engagement ofthe followers with theffriction plates.

friction shoclr absorbingr 1 mechaarranged tapering friction elements co-acting with said wedge means; longitudinally-ara nism, the combination vwith front and rear l followers h'aving'wedging means associated therewith; of a pair'of relatively movable friction shells ;a spring resistance interposed kbetween said friction shells; longitudinally arranged sets of intercalated frictionplates,

said sets of plates being divided into'two groups onopposite sides ofr said'shells, with the innermost plate of each group in contact with said-shells and the outermost plates of the groups of plates cor-acting with the wedg- Y absorbing mechaing means; yco-acting means on one of said i shells and one of said sets of plates Vfor returning said set of `plates to normal position;

nism, the combination with front and rear Y followers-having wedging means associated therewith; ofa pair of longitudinally arrangedv tapering friction elements coacting with said Vwedging means; a'pair of relatively movable 'friction shells; a spring resistance interposed between said lfriction shells; longitudinally arranged setsy of intercalated friction plates, saidsets of plates being divided into two groups, on opposite sides of said one of said tapering friction elements; and co-acting'means on said shells and tapering friction elements for returning the latter vto normal position. v ,A 9.' In a Yfriction shockV absorbing mechanism, the'combination with front and rear followers having .wedging means associated therewith; of a4 pair of relatively 'movable friction shells; a spring resistance interposed between said friction shells; longitudinally arranged alternated friction plates, said plates being dividedinto two iin isc-f ii5 shells, with the innermost plateof eachfgroup v v `in contact with the friction shells, andthe outermost plate of each 'group co-acting withV groups on opposite sides of said shells, with the outer plate of each group co-acting with said wedging means; and laterally projecting lugs on each of saidshells with the lugs on one of said shells adapted to engage alternate plates to restore the same to normal position and with the lugs on the other shell adapted to engage the remaining plates to restore the same to normal position.

l0. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers having wedging means associated therewith; of tapering friction elementsy coacting with said wedging means; a pair of relatively movable friction shells; a spring resistance interposed between said friction shells; longitudinally arranged alternated friction plates, said plates being divided into two groups on the opposite sides of said shells, with the outer plate of each group co-acting with one of said tapering friction elements; and laterally projecting lugs on each of said shells adapted to engage with 'said tapering elements to restore the same to normal position when the actuating pressure is removed.

11. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with front and rear followers having wedging means associated therewith; of a pair of relatively movable friction shells; a spring resistance interposed between said friction shells; longitudinally arranged alternated friction plates, said plates being divided into two groups on opposite sides of said shells; friction elements interposed between said groups of plates and the wedges, each of said elements being longitudinally tapered in opposite directions from the center thereof; and laterally projecting lugs on each of said shells adapted to engage the said tapering friction elements to restore the same to normal position when the actuating pressure is removed.

12. In a friction shock absorbing mechanisni, the combination with front and rear follower casings having interior wedge faces on the opposite side walls thereof; of a wedge coacting with each wedge face; oppositely arranged friction plates arranged in two groups, housed within said followers; a pair of friction shells between said groups of plates and provided with exterior friction faces co-operating with the innermost plates of said groups of plates; lugs on said shells with the lugs on one of said shells being adapted to engage with the shoulders on alternate friction plates to restore the sameto normal position with the free ends thereof spaced from the end wall of one of said follower casings, and 'the lugs on the other shell being adapted to engage with the shoulders on the remaining plates to restore the same to normal position with the free ends thereof spaced from the end wall of the other follower casing; a spring resistance interposed between said friction shells; and a friction element interposed between each group ofplates and the adjacent side walls of said followers, each of said elements having a iiatrfriction surface, co-a-cting with the Louter friction plate of one of said groups of plates, and a pair of fiat faces extending angularly with reference to each other and inclined to the longitudinal axis of the gear, one of said pairs of flat faces being adapted to engage with the wedges co-acting with the adjacent side walls of the front follower casing, and the other face of said pair being adapted to engage with the wedges co-acting with the adjacent side wall of the rearV follower casing.

- 13. In a. friction Vshock absorbing mechanism, the combination with hollow, box-like end members relatively movable toward and from each other; of a longitudinally arranged spring resistancev between said members; groups of intercalated, longitudinally eX- tending, relatively movable friction plates at the sides of said spring resistance, said groups of plates being responsive to laterally applied pressure; lateral pressure-resistingmeans between said groups of plates; and differentially acting wedging means interposed between the walls of said follower members and the respective groups of plates.

l-f. In a friction shock absorbing Vvmechanism, the combination with hollow and follower members, relatively movable toward and from each other, each of saidfollower members having opposed interior side walls; of yielding means for resisting relative approach of said members; a plurality of longitudinally disposed, intercalated friction plates, said plates being relatively movable v' longitudinally of the mechanism and respon-4 sive to laterally applied pressure; and differential wedges interposed between each of the opposite side walls of said follower members and the friction plates.

l5. A shock absorber comprising two housings movable lengthwise relative to each other, friction shells enclosed within said housings and movable lengthwise of the respecthe shells, other friction plates operativelyA associated with the other housing and shell and intercalated with the. first `mentioned plates, wedging meansen'gaging the sides ofr iis the housings and -pressingthe plates against. 'Y

the friction surfaces ofthe shells, and resil-y ientmeans Vfor actuating the wedging means and returning the parts to normal position after compression. l Y

16. In a draft gear, in combination, a pair -o'f chambcred followers, shock absoring ele-k ments interposed between the followers and normally spaced therefrom, said elements comprising a pair of centrally disposed mov able friction blocks, shoes having wedging engagement with the sidewalls of theV followers Y groups'of'intercalating friction plates interposed between the friction blocks and shoes,

anda mainlspring resistance interposed between said blocks and yieldingly resisting relative approach of thesame.

' 17. In a draft gear, in combination, a pair of chambered followers, shock absorbing ele.

ments interposed between the followers andV comprising a pairy ofk centrally Vdisposed fric-v tion blocks, shoes having 'wedging engagement with the side walls ofthe followers, groups of intercalating friction plates interf posed shoes, means for interlocking the shoesass ociated with eachfollower with one of the blocks and withk v'one set of plates ofeachV group,` and 'means' yieldingly resisting relative movement of said blocks.. f

' 18.v In a draftV gear, in combination, la pair of chambered'followers, shock absorbing elements Yinterposed Vbetween the followers and comprising a pair of centrallydisposed floating friction blocks, yshoes having wedging engagement" with theside wallsrof the fol-V lowers, groups of intercalating friction plates interposed between the friction Yblocks and the shoes, means actuated by each block and having'shoulderedy engagement with oneV set` of the plates of each'group and with yone pair of the shoes, andspringvmeans interposed betweenthe said blocks. Y

19. vIna draft gear, in'combin'ation, apair of chambered followers', shock absorbing ele- Y ments interposed between the followersfand comprising a pair of centrally disposed fric- I vposed between 'the friction members and shoes,

' ftion members, shoes having wedging-engage- A`rZiff ment withitheVV side walls ofthe followers,

groups Vof intercalating frictionplates inter-` between the friction blocks and the group of plates and cooperating withthe cor@ responding longitudinal vwalls of the other set of members; and means yieldinglyY resist# ing relative movement of the members of said sets. Y

In witness that I claimfthe foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this rdday of February, 1923.

y JOHN F, OGONNOR.V

y `so means koperatively engaging the shoes asso'V ciated with each follower with one of the".1

` members and lwith Vone set ofthe platesiof ea'chgroup, and spring means interposed betweensaid members. y

'l 120.Ina friction hoek absorbing'mechaknism, .the combination with avset of front and rear, follower-acting members, relatively movabl'eltowa'rd and from each other, each of f said vmembers having foppose`d,'lateral pres'- sureresisting, longitudinal wallsat opposite ing on the longitudinal walls of'one off-said? sets'ofmembers at the corresponding sideof the mechanismywedge means engagin'ggsaid e 

